extComparisons have been made between schizophrenics and normal people to determine whether personal experience of negative life events is a significant factor. It has been found that schizophrenics have a higher incidence of these negative experiences in the areas of work, health, family and social relationships.[95] It has also been observed that the incidence of schizophrenia is higher in urban centres, but recent research has been unable to confirm that the stress of city living is implicated as a cause.[96]
Stresses arising from social class have also been a subject for research into the cause of schizophrenia. There has been consistent evidence of a higher incidence of schizophrenia amongst people of lower social classes. Two principal hypotheses have been presented to account for this. The first is that stresses induced by social conditions such as poverty, unemployment and welfare dependency can cause schizophrenia. The second is that the confused state of mind experienced by schizophrenics makes them socially uncompetitive which in turn leads to downward social drift.
Stresses arising from racial identity have also been explored as possibly contributing to the cause of schizophrenia. A recent study conducted in the UK compared the incidence and outcomes of schizophrenia amongst whites, Afro-Caribbeans and Asians. Afro-Caribbeans and Asian women were found to have a higher incidence of schizophrenia and Afro-Caribbeans were more disabled by the experience. The only significant variable the researchers could find to explain these results, other than racial identity, was a higher level of unemployment amongst the Afro-Caribbeans.[97]
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[95] Graziano Canton and Ida G. Fraccon, ‘Life events and schizophrenia: A replication’, pp. 211–16.
[96] Hugh Freeman, ‘Schizophrenia and city residence’, pp. 39–50.
[97] D. Bhugra et al., ‘Incidence and outcome of schizophrenia in whites, African-Caribbeans and Asians in London’, pp. 791–798.